Movable grate-bar



(No Model.) 2 sheets-shea; 1.

C. J. DORRANGE.

MOVABLE GRATE BAB..

No. 451,615. Patented May 5,1891.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

.um WWA B N B R Rm 0 DE .u uw GM (No Model.)

No. 451,615. Patented May 5,1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE.

CHARLES J. DORRANCE, OF CIIICAGC, ILLINOIS.

MOVAB LE G RATE-BAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 451,615, dated May 5., 1891.

Application filed October 15, 1S89` Serial No. 327,122. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. DORRANCE, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Movable Grate-Bars; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which 'form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in that class of grate-bars wherein the grate-su rface is formed by a plurality of clips or plates removably or otherwise attached to transverse bars, which latter are movably j ournaled in suitable frames, whereby the grate snrfaces or clips may be oscillated or rocked to and fro for the purpose of shaking the fire, breaking the clinkers, sifting the ashes, &c. In this class of grates it is found that the portion of the frame or box supporting the movable transverse bars-to wit, the part or side bar provided with journal-bearings-is not covered by any portion of the tire surface or clips, thus leaving a space between the end clip and the outer edgeof said bar or frame varying from two to four inches. This distance is increased if the said side bar or frame is not in close proximity to the inside of the fire wall or chamber. l'Vhere a single frame is employed the outer edges thereof are usually adjacent to the inner brick walls of the combustion-chamber, and it has been found in practice that the clinkers attach themselves. readily to the inner surface of said walls and gradually build out over the grat-e. This tendency is assisted by the construction above set forth, for the reason that adjacent to the'inner wall of the tire-chamber is the space above mentioned of from two to four inches and sometimes greater, which space is not provided with any moving or rocking part or clip. The upper edge of the side bars of the frame forms a shelfand readily catches particles of live coal falling from the lire-surface, and thus assists the formation of clinkers. This evil may be somewhat remedied by the use of long rods and pokers inserted from the feed-door of the furnace. The use of such implements, however, is admitted to be injurious, as the feed-door must necessarily be left open during the operation of breaking up and removing the clinkers, thus admitting a volume of cold air, which tends to deaden the fire and also to chill the boilers and otherwise injure the same. Again, where a {irechamber is of such width as to make it impracticable to employ rocking` or shaking grates mounted upon a single frame, it is the custom to use two or more of such sets of grates, and when so employed the frames supporting the different sets of grates are placed side by side. It will be obvious that in such case the space between the proximate edges of the adjacent end clips is doubled by the juxtaposition of the frames, making a dead space, so to speak, of from fourto eight inches or more in the center of the nre-chamber and also leaving a dead space of from two to four inches at each side of the lire-chamber, as above mentioned, when but a single frame is employed. It is very important that a live fire-surface extend from wall to wall within the fire-chamber. An attempt has therefore been made to overcome the disadvantages attendant on the presence of this dead space in the center of the {ire-chamber (where the iire is usually the hottest and where it is necessary to agitate the burning coals in order to prevent the formation of clinkers) by covering the same with long stationary grate-bars running parallel with the supporting-frames. The use of these bars also requires the use of stoking implement-s, as above explained, and is attended with the same objectionable features. It is found in practice that where movable and stationary metal parts compose the fire-surface the vstationary plates burn out first and have to be frequently renewed.

To remedy the above evil is the object of the present invention; and the same consists, primarily, of covering said dead spaces with movable fire surfaces, as hereinafter set forth. By forming a movable grate-surface extending entirely across the width of the lire-chamber a live even lire maybe maintained at all points ou the grate.

The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following'l description and the appended claims.

Figure l is a perspective view of a gratebar embracing my invention. Fig. 2 is a IOO transverse vertical sectional view of the adjacent ends of two grate-bars when used ina single combiistion-cliamlier. Fig. E is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the supportin g-f rame and grate-bars carried thereon. Figzl is a partial plan view of the saine. Fig. 5 is a partial vertical sectional view taken upon line 5 5, Fig. Il, and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. Fig. (5 is a perspective view of one of the end clips.

I n said drawings,A represents the lire-fronti, having` feed-doors a and ash-doors a.

Il is the frame connected with the tire-front A by a deadplate A. The frame I3 consists, essentially, of side bars l', having depending legs or supports l) at each end, which pieces Il are coiiiieeied at their end by the usual transverse end bars Il. I sometimes dispense with the end bars Il?. In such cases the side bars I3 may be secured directly to tlieinside of the side walls lli; of the combustion-chainber and the legs b dispensed with. At snitable intervals along the upper surface of said bar I3 are the journal-bearings Z1.

C C are transverse bars provided at either end with ti'iiiiiiions c, adapted to ht and rotate in the journal-bearings b. In the drawings I have shown said triinnioiis c as located upon one side of a line drawn vertically through the center of the bar C, but my invention is not to beliinited to siiehconstriiction, it being obvious that said triinnions e may be located centrally of the bars (l, ifdesiied. I have also shown all said triiiiiiions c as being journaled in the same horizontal plane, and while such construction is preferred it is not insisted upon, as it will be manifest that said journal-bearings may be located in different horizontal planes.

Depending from the transverse bars C, and preferably depending from the center of said bars, are the arms C.

D D are suitable bars or links, each conneeted with one-half of the whole number of bars C. The link D is secured to each alternate arm C', while the link D is secured to the remaining arms C.

D2 is an arm or lever pivoted at d to the inside of the plate A.

D3 D3 are connecting-links joining, respectively, the upper and lower ends ofthe arm D2 with the links D D.

A lever E is pivoted to the outside of the frame A at c. The upper end of said lever E is adapted io receive a handle E', by which the saine may be operated. The lower end of said lever E is connected by a link F.2 to the lower end of the lever D2. The link E2 passes through a suitable slot oi' opening a2 in the frame A. It will be manifest fi'oiii the construction thus described that by rocking the handle E to and fro an oscillating or roeking motion will not only be imparted to the transverse bars C and to the grate-surface carried thereon, but that said bars will be moved in opposite directions by reason of the attachment of the bars tothe alternate dependingl arms C', as more clearly shownin lietterswlatent No. 403,255, issued to me )lay Il, ISSU.

F F are metallic clips, each consisting' of a plate having a eiiived fire surface or edgej', and two depending members or prongs j. Preferably said clips are loosely and reinovably placed upon the transverse bars C at suitable intervals, but they may be east integral with said bars or may be otherwise secured thereto. Each of the bars C may be provided with proper notches or cutaway portions c at proper intervals for the reception of the membersf of theclips F when said clips are separately east. The end clips F are each provided with one or more Sections or ribs east integral therewith, such construction being more definitely illustrated in Fig. o, wherein two siieh sections are shown. The section or part F2 is preciselysimilar in shape to the clip F, but is minus the depending members f. It is connected to the clip F by the web f2. The extension F3 has the same fire-surface as the other two members, and 1s attached to the section lf2 by the web f. The member F is provided, however, with a strengtheniiig-ribf, convex in contour, which usually will extend down to within proper clearing distance of the upper part of the trunnioiis c.

The upper portion or edge of the side frame Il is cut away or hollowed out between t lie journal-bearings b, as clearly shown in Fig. The liollowed-oiit portions are eliainfered away, as shown at b2 he, so that any ashes or bits of coal falling thereon will not be caught thereby, but will slide below to the ash-pit'. The cutting away of the side bar, as shown, is a great advantage, in that it affords a free air-passage below the end clips. l

It will be obvious from the construction shown and described that the clips F and their extensions T2 F cover the dead spaces above referred to by extending out over the truiinioiis c, the journal-bearings b', and the upper edge of the side bars I3. It will also be obvious that by the oscillation of the gratebars C the end clips F2 and F3 will have a shearing action underneath and against any cliiikers which might temporarily form on the side wall when the grate-bars are stationary. The cutaway portions of the upper part of the frame l permit the necessary oscillating movement of the extensions F2 F3 of the end clips F.

There more than one set of bars are used in a combiistioii-ehamber, the adjacent end clips F of each set make a continuous movable fire-surface at the centerof the fire-chamber, and I am thus enabled to dispense with the stationary grate-bars above mentioned.

In my said Letters Patent I have shown a rocker-shaft at the rear of the transverse grate-bars, to which shaft the arms depending from the several grate -bars are eeniiected. Suchconstruction is not always convenient wlici'e there is a very small space be- IOO IIO

low the grate-bars-as, for example, in locomotive ash-pans. I have, therefore, devised the present form of leverage, wherebya comparatively low ash-pit may be utilized.

IVhen more than one frame is employed in a single fire-chamber, as shown in Fig. 2, a single side bar B may be employed of sufficient width to carry the adjacent trunnions c. It will be understood, of course, that the same advantages will be attained if the sections F2 and F3 are united and cast solidly to the clip F', forming an inverted-L-shaped (F) end clip. It will also be understood that I may use more than One connecting rib or web f2 r 5 f3 to connect, respectively, the several parts of the end clip.

It may be mentioned that the dead space On the sides of the grate in locomotive tireboxes is particularly injurious thereto, the side sheets of the tire-box corroding by the accumulation of clinkers and other refuse, thus requiring frequent renewals of the same. With my invention, as above set forth, this Objection is entirely overcome.

It will be noticed that the trunnions c are integral with the grate-bar C, and that they are shown as located at the ends of said bar; but it will be understood, of course, that Where the grate-bar C is 'of great length, owing to an unusually Wide fire-chamber in which it is to be used, an intermediate support or trunnion may be formed without departing from the essential features of my invention. This is obvious from an inspection of Fig. 2 of the drawings, such construction requiring merely the joining of two adjacent end pinions c c ot' the two grate-bars C C. In such case the end clips F may be placed On either side of the trunnions, as shown in said Fig. 2, or the adjacent extensions F3 of each clip may be united directly, or by a suitable web, as f3. I have seen lit to illustrate this modification, as will be perfectly obvious from an inspection OE Fig. 2.

I claim as my invention-d l. In a grate, the combination of a plurality of movable grate-bars, each provided with trunnions integral therewith, and a su pport for the saine having bearings for said trunnions, said grate-bars having removable tire-surfaces extending over said trunnions and bearings, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a plurality of movable grate-bars, each provided with suitable trunnions located on one side Of aline drawn vertically through the center of said bars, and a support for the same provided With bearings for said trunnions, said grate-bars' being provided With removable tire-surfaces extending over said trunnions and journals, substantially as described.

3. rIhe combination of a plurality of pivoted oscillating grate-bars, each provided with suitable integral trunnions, anda support for the same provided with bearings for said trunnions, said support having a recessed or cut-away portion between said bearings, and said grate-bars being provided with lire-surfaces extending over the trunnions,bearings, and support, substantially as described.

4. The combination of a plurality of movable grat-e -bars having trunnions at their ends located on one side of aline drawn vertically through the center of said bars, and a support for the same provided with bearings for said trunnions, said grate-bars being provided with iire-surtaces extending over the said trunnions and bearings to points flush with or outside OE said bearings, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES J. DORRANCE.

Witnessesz TAYLOR E. BROWN, GEORGE W. Hreenvs, J1. 

